Cap has a bizarre dream involving an episode that took place during World War II. He witnesses his old partner Bucky being shot to death by Nazi soldiers. Awakening from the dream, Steve recalls that Bucky did not die under those circumstances.

Soon after, Agent-13 contacts him and instructs him to report to the SHIELD Helicarrier. Upon arriving, he learns that the Red Skull has been murdered, and his body has been appropriated by SHIELD agents. As the Red Skull was a clone of Steve Rogers, Nick Fury asks Steve for a DNA sample to use as forensic evidence. The results prove conclusively, that this is indeed the body of the Red Skull.

Cap and the SHIELD agents go to the crime scene where a cylindrical glass tube is discovered. SHIELD later uses thermal imaging technology on the evidence and discover that it once housed a Cosmic Cube.

Cap later investigates threats of a new splinter group of Advanced Idea Mechanics known as Advanced Ideas In Destruction (A.I.D.). AID has been working for the Red Skull and are scheduled to detonate a firebomb device beneath the streets of Manhattan. Cap and Agent-13 fight up against AID agents as well as their field commander, Crossbones. Cap disables the firebomb with a swift toss from his shield.